The Blue Bulls pulled off a magnificent victory to surge into a seven point lead at the top of the Currie Cup table, beating the Sharks 41-27 with an inspiring performance by Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez.
Du Preez scored one of his sides’ five tries and had a hand in at least two others as the Bulls made their intentions of winning a third consecutive title under coach Heyneke Meyer clear.
Du Preez’s classy performance ripped the heart out of the Sharks, especially in the second half.
But the Bulls telling blows only came late in the second half, after both sides had slugged it out in one of the best advertisements for the competition this year.
Eventually the Bulls ability to sap up the pressure, much as they did in the corresponding fixture at King’s Park a fortnight ago, and their ability to strike when necessary, won them the game.
The Sharks took their chances to lead the game when Conrad Barnard — who had an off-day with the boot — slotted the opening points through a penalty in the fourth minute.
From there on the Currie Cup champions slotted into gear, as sustained pressure across the field gave midfielder Ettienne Botha an opening, and he used it to full effect, bouncing off the attempted tackles of Deon Kayser and Brent Russell to tiptoe along the sideline to score.
Barnard pulled back the lead with another penalty but Botha was instrumental in the second try, offloading inside to winger Gavin Passens who flew through at pace and returned the favour for Botha to grab his second try and put the Bulls 14-6 ahead.
The Sharks were not to be outdone however, and made a contest of the match when they caught the Bulls napping and used their momentum to get lock Nico Breedt, who was easily the best Sharks forward of the day, over the line to narrow the deficit.
The Sharks managed to stop Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard behind the line and snaffled the turnover, sending it wide against a scrambling defence as Adrian Jacobs eventually dragged John Mametsa over the line to bring the scoreline within a point.
Despite sustained Bulls pressure, the teams turned at 17-16 and the Sharks once again took the lead early in the second half through a Barnard penalty.
Hougaard quickly put the Bulls back in front a minute later, dropping from 35 metres out with a beauty that sailed directly between the posts.
But then Du Preez, behind a pack that was growing in confidence and which started dominating, took control.
He took a quick look with 20 minutes to go, darted blind and had enough speed to beat Trevor Halstead before dummying Russell to run in and score under the posts.
As the clock ticked down, the Bulls were a bit fortunate as their planned double drive from a five metre penalty bounced through Geo Cronje’s hands and into captain Anton Leonard’s, who fell over the open tryline to establish a 12 point lead and seal the game.
Du Preez’s vision eventually killed off the Sharks as he milked the blind side again and sent Bok flanker Jacques Cronje over to score to deny the Sharks any hope of a bonus point.
The visitors managed a late try by Deon Carstens, but it was too little too late.
Scorers
Blue Bulls: Tries by Ettienne Botha (2), Fourie du Peez, Anton Leonard, Jacques Cronje. Five conversions, one penalty and one drop goal by Derick Hougaard.
Sharks: Tries by Nico Breedt, Adrian Jacobs and Deon Carstens. Four penalties by Conrad Barnard. – Sapa